CHARLESTON — With the state pounded by snow, West Virginia GOP has postponed a meeting that could have included a vote on closing primary voting to party members only.
That would have meant voters registered as non-affiliated would not be able to ask for the Republican ballot in primary elections, including, possibly, the one this May.
“In view of the governor’s setting a state of emergency for the entire state, it is unlikely that we will have a quorum present and it would be unfair to people most affected by the storm to proceed,” stated Elgine McArdle, chairwoman of the West Virginia GOP.
The Republican Party’s winter meeting would have been at 1 p.m. today in Charleston.
Now, party leaders are talking about rescheduling for the following weekend, with a meeting at 1 p.m. Jan. 27 in Charleston.
The potential move to close primary voting has been controversial, mostly because of the timing. Candidates have been busy filing to run for office, and questions have focused on whether independent voters could be informed adequately in the lead up to the May primary.
“It would require that the information be disseminated. It would require education to the individuals who are unaffiliated giving them reasons of why they should convert to Republicans,” McArdle said earlier this week on MetroNews’ “Talkline.”
“There should be debate. There should be discussion and then make a decision. That can’t happen in 90 days,” she said. “Changing the rules in the middle of the game is probably not a good idea.”
Figures with the Secretary of State’s office show that through December, West Virginia had 469,099 registered Republicans, 367,532 registered Democrats and 286,918 registered voters with no party affiliation.
Gov. Jim Justice, a two-term Republican who first won office as a Democrat, questioned the possible move to closed primaries when he was asked about the issue during an administration briefing this week. Justice is running for U.S. Senate.
“From my standpoint, it’s late in the game,” Justice said.
“Why give independents the opportunity to vote in the Democratic primary and not the opportunity to vote in the Republican primary? We’re just going to run independent voters over to the Democratic side. You know, we’re going to take away votes to President Trump, where he could be showing a great big momentum swing here.”
Justice continued, “The primary reason is it’s just late, late, late in the game. It costs money. You know, too many things.”
Preston County Clark Linda Huggins pushed back on the closed primary possibility during an appearance this week on “Talkline.”
“When you are running an election and you have been preparing for this election for a year prior then to at the last moment throw a wrench into the system it just causes room for more error,” Huggins said.
She said clerks have had interactions with non-affiliated voters for years to allow selection of either Democratic or Republican ballots. A quick switch of format, she said, could catch voters off guard and put unnecessary stress on poll workers.
“We are the people that meet these voters face to face. Our poll workers see these voters face to face. It’ll just cause a disservice to our citizens in West Virginia.”
